8 critical keys for LA Rams debut preseason game

Special teams

There was a concerted effort to improve the Rams’ special teams play this year. Now, we will have the opportunity to witness if it has truly gotten any better. Special Teams Coordinator Joe DeCamillis appears to have had a lot of input on the Rams 2021 NFL Draft. Now, it will be vital to see who will excel on the team from that push towards athleticism and special teams expertise.

I. Any signs that the Rams coverage units improved this year?

The LA Rams should have nearly all of their projected special teams players available for this game. That’s because none of the rookies have shown up higher than third-string so far on the depth chart. That means that the coverage team can feature Jacob Harris and Jake Funk, or Robert Rochell, or others. Will the Rams have speed throughout the coverage team?  Or will the team concentrate speed at the gunners, and focus on containment at the rest of the unit? The LA Rams want to make significant strides in both punt and kickoff coverage. So that’s where you should train your binoculars.

II. Do the LA Rams show any signs of trick plays on special teams?

One of the drawbacks to the 2020 special teams’ play was the fact that the Rams simply did not attempt any trick plays. With this first preseason game against the all-too-familiar Brandon Staley’s team, do the Rams try to test run a fake kick? This could be the game to pull any gadget plays out of the toy box and see how it looks. After all, the Rams know that the Chargers’ defense will be the closest defense to that of the Chicago Bears.  Will that similarity compel the Rams to give this one a bit of wide-open trickery? Or will the anticipated familiarity to the Rams offense give the Rams extra caution?

This game may be less about the final score and more about the mechanics, the players, individual performance, and what the Rams show in terms of their playbook. The Rams and the Chargers do not face one another this season, and this one will likely be rather cordial as these things tend to go.  While neither the Chargers nor the Rams will likely risk injury to starters, both teams have plenty of talent that will make this one a thriller nevertheless. These are the eight items to watch for in this one. If you think of more, let us know in the comments section. Thanks.

Go Rams!